Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Five-year plan for Rockhampton and Gladstone roads
Improving regional road networks is the focus of funding in Central Queensland's Fitzroy Region, as part of a record $16.2 billion five-year roads program released by the Bligh Government today.
The Roads Implementation Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 outlines a $16.2 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland's roads over the next five years, including $589 million for road projects in the Rockhampton and Gladstone areas.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the program—a 22 per cent increase on last year's program—highlighted record funding for regional, rural and remote areas of the state.
“The latest Roads Implementation Program looks over the horizon as part of our longer-term planning for the future of our state’s road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“This government is building tomorrow’s Queensland today and we have allocated a record funding program to achieve this objective,’ he said.
“This record funding includes nearly close to $590 million in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of roads connecting Rockhampton, Gladstone and surrounding areas.”
The Roads Implementation Program outlines planned roadworks over a five-year timeframe, with firm funding commitments for projects in the first two years of the program, and indicative plans and allocations for the following three years.
“This unique program gives our stakeholders, clients and suppliers firm commitments they can factor into their own planning,” Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 to 2012-13 Roads Implementation Program included projects outlined in this week’s 2008-09 State Budget, as well as road projects commencing in 2009-10 and beyond.
Rockhampton and Gladstone project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $15 million to commence works on the Leichhardt Highway near the Don River Bridges, at a total cost of $65 million
• $3.2 million to repair and overlay pavement on the Burnett Highway south of the Argoon turn-off, as part of a $5.6 million project
• $2.1 million for rehabilitation and widening on the Rockhampton-Emu Park Road, between Cobb & Co Road and Whiteley Road.
• $2 million for paving and sealing works on the Roma-Taroom Road
• $1.8 million for pavement improvements on Tannum Sands Road, as part of a $4 million project
• $1.5 million to replace Stoney Creek Bridge on the Byfield Road, as part of a $3 million project.
Regional and shire councils will also benefit, with more than $2.5 million in allocations provided under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in 2009-10.
The TIDS program allows local government to access state government funding to help fund projects on local roads.
TIDS allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $215,000 for Rockhampton Regional Council to install traffic signals at the intersection of Moores Creek Road and Kerrigan Street
• $226,000 for Banana Shire Council to extend the bitumen seal on Nathan Road, and $100,000 towards rehabilitation and widening works in the Cracow area
• $150,000 for Gladstone Regional Council for asphalt resurfacing on Don Young Drive, and $125,000 to widen and seal a section of the Mt Larcom-Bracewell Road, north of Mt Larcom.
The five-year program also confirms projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09:
• a $5.3 million project to complete work now underway on the Burnett Highway between Argoon and Jambin
• a $2 million project for fatigue management facilities to improve safety on the Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Downfall Creek
• $1.9 million in road improvements on the Gladstone-Mt Larcom Road.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The Roads Implementation Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 outlines a $16.2 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland's roads over the next five years, including $589 million for road projects in the Rockhampton and Gladstone areas.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the program—a 22 per cent increase on last year's program—highlighted record funding for regional, rural and remote areas of the state.
“The latest Roads Implementation Program looks over the horizon as part of our longer-term planning for the future of our state’s road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“This government is building tomorrow’s Queensland today and we have allocated a record funding program to achieve this objective,’ he said.
“This record funding includes nearly close to $590 million in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of roads connecting Rockhampton, Gladstone and surrounding areas.”
The Roads Implementation Program outlines planned roadworks over a five-year timeframe, with firm funding commitments for projects in the first two years of the program, and indicative plans and allocations for the following three years.
“This unique program gives our stakeholders, clients and suppliers firm commitments they can factor into their own planning,” Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 to 2012-13 Roads Implementation Program included projects outlined in this week’s 2008-09 State Budget, as well as road projects commencing in 2009-10 and beyond.
Rockhampton and Gladstone project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $15 million to commence works on the Leichhardt Highway near the Don River Bridges, at a total cost of $65 million
• $3.2 million to repair and overlay pavement on the Burnett Highway south of the Argoon turn-off, as part of a $5.6 million project
• $2.1 million for rehabilitation and widening on the Rockhampton-Emu Park Road, between Cobb & Co Road and Whiteley Road.
• $2 million for paving and sealing works on the Roma-Taroom Road
• $1.8 million for pavement improvements on Tannum Sands Road, as part of a $4 million project
• $1.5 million to replace Stoney Creek Bridge on the Byfield Road, as part of a $3 million project.
Regional and shire councils will also benefit, with more than $2.5 million in allocations provided under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in 2009-10.
The TIDS program allows local government to access state government funding to help fund projects on local roads.
TIDS allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $215,000 for Rockhampton Regional Council to install traffic signals at the intersection of Moores Creek Road and Kerrigan Street
• $226,000 for Banana Shire Council to extend the bitumen seal on Nathan Road, and $100,000 towards rehabilitation and widening works in the Cracow area
• $150,000 for Gladstone Regional Council for asphalt resurfacing on Don Young Drive, and $125,000 to widen and seal a section of the Mt Larcom-Bracewell Road, north of Mt Larcom.
The five-year program also confirms projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09:
• a $5.3 million project to complete work now underway on the Burnett Highway between Argoon and Jambin
• a $2 million project for fatigue management facilities to improve safety on the Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Downfall Creek
• $1.9 million in road improvements on the Gladstone-Mt Larcom Road.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819